Wine Maker

If one asks Romeo Zuech (Winemaker) what his secret is to making high quality wines, he answers “One, I make sure that the grape grower is a good friend, and two, I use flawless procedures because I don’t want to drink my mistakes.”

Romeo, known affectionately as “Meo” by his family and friends, was born and raised in Brez, Italy. In 1950, after serving in WWII for the Allied Forces in the resistance army, he moved to the United States. For 30 years he worked as a successful Aerospace Engineer for Rocketdyne, in Canoga Park, California. He created numerous metal alloys used in the NASA space projects, and was highly recognized for his contributions in the project that landed the first man on the Moon. After retiring from Rocketdyne in 1983, Romeo moved to San Luis Obispo with his wife Margaret and began Piedra Creek Winery. What started as a passion quickly became a business for Romeo, when he realized how many people adored his wines.

Romeo has a unique wine making style. His ability to utilize old world wine making practices and balance them with the state of the art, modern technique, is truly what makes Piedra Creek wines so unique. Margaret says, “You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to be a wine maker, but it helps.”

Romeo specializes in Italian blends made with old world wine making practices such as hopper blends, which are higher risk, yet magnificent when blended correctly. He specializes San Floriano, a unique blend of Italian varietals, Old Vine Zinfandels and lighter, more elegant Burgundian style Pinot Noirs.

Vineyards

Edna Valley is located approximately half way between San Francisco and Los Angeles on the Pacific Coast.

Its unique geography runs East to West which allows cool ocean breezes to funnel in to the valley from Morro Bay. Cool mornings paired with warm sunny afternoons make for a mild climate that is ideal for grape growing. The soil too, has a heavy maritime influence, consisting of chalk, loam, clay and dark humus, with subsoil made of calcareous marine deposits left behind millions of years ago when the valley floor was under water.

Edna Valley experiences long growing seasons, resulting in fully matured and complex fruit. San Floriano Vineyard is the heart and soul of Piedra Creek Winery. This boutique vineyard of only 2 acres produces one acre of Pinot Noir (including 3 special clones), one-half acre of Lagrein, and one-half acre of Teroldego, which are usually the two Italian grapes used in our famous San Floriano blend. In the fall of 2002 the first vintages were harvested. The vines are tended and pruned to produce quality over quantity, and because the vineyard surrounds the Zuech home, tending to it has become a “hands on” experience, from bud break to vinification.

The Benito Dusi Ranch is located in Paso Robles, approximately 40 miles north of San Luis Obispo. The vineyard is best known for its high quality, old vine Zinfandel grapes, which are grown on 90 year old vines. Piedra Creek has been producing a Benito Dusi Zinfandel since 1979, the first vintage for sale was 1986.

Winery

Piedra Creek Winery was conceived on a small knoll overlooking the beautiful Edna Valley of San Luis Obispo, California. In 1984 Piedra Creek Winery became the smallest bonded winery in the Edna Valley, if not the state of California, originally producing only 400 cases of Chardonnay. Current production is under 1,000 cases, with 3 to 4 types of wines produced per year. 2002 marked the first estate bottling of 150 cases of Pinot Noir grown from the small vineyard surrounding the Zuech home, and in 2003 San Floriano blend won a gold medal and Best of Class.

Since 1999 Piedra Creek wines have been made in a small bonded area of Courtside Cellars, a large custom crush facility in Edna Valley. Winemaker Romeo Zuech has the use of state of the art equipment and extra manpower whenever needed.